The Delta independent., 1887-05-03
A BOLD EXPRESS ROBBERY.
A Train on the Southern Pacific
stopped by Thieves Who Were
Armed with Dynamite.

Armed with Dynam1te.
SAN FRANCISCO, Gala, April 2S.-
One of the most audacious, desperate and
successful train robberies that was ever re-
corded occurred yesterday on the west
bound overland train on the Southern Pa
cific Railroad, near Tucson, Arizona A
special dispatch to the Evening Bulletin
this afternoon from Tucson giTee the de-
tails of the affair as follows:
The western-bound express due here at
10 80 o'clock last evening was stopped and
robbed at Papsgo Station, eighteen miles
east of here. about 9 80 O'Clock last evening.
The number of men who were engaged in
the robbery |, rariously estimated from five
to eight. Colonel Harper, the engineer,
when approaching Papago Side-otation,
was signalled by a red lantern to stop.
He slowed down, and as he approached the
light he noticed distractions on the trask,
which were so placed that in case he failed
to stop, the engine would spread the track
and derail itself 1mmediatel! on stopping
a dozen or more shots were fred into the
express car and man with pistol in each
hand bearded the locomotive and command
ed Harper to get down. The other robbers
had in the meantime been trying to open
the express car and, failing to get it open,
they placed a stick of giant powder under
it and compelled Harper to light the fuse
attached. This he was obliged to do, but to
avoid being blown up, the messenger
opened the car and the robbers took posses
sion, after e1tinguishins the fuse.
They then took charge of the car, tn
coupled the engine, baggage and express
car from the remainder of the train, made
Harper get Oh the engine and pull ahead
two lengths. This being done, Harper was
again put of, and the robbers took charge
ofthe engine and pulled six miles toward
Tucson. Here they killed the engine and
left it.
During the run the robbers went through
the mail and express cars, but they did moi
get more than 5000 They got two pack
ages of railroad money, one of sl,alo and
ene of $500 and also TOOK two packages of
postage stamps which were going to the
postofice at San Francisco. 1t is reported
that the express messenger threw $500 In
gold into the stove and so saved it from the
robbers.
Nothing was known here of the affair un-
til past midnight, when telegram was re-
ceived from Pantaro, a brakeman having
walked back eight miles to that place.
special was sent down and the train was
brought in at O'Clock this morning. None
of the passengers were molested and some
of them knew nothing of the trouble until
their arrival here.
Under-sheriff SlibelI was early at the
90 . ha -, bnt ha Iisr0yar
nothing that would lead to the identity of
the robbers. Ten trailers under Deputy
Sheriff NJ. F. Shaw have left for the scene
of the trouble. The robbers are believed
TO be discharged railroad employees, and
although they compelled engineer Harper
to show them how to handle the locomotive,
1t is believed by their actions in handling
the train that they were familiar with such
work.
Immediately upon receipt Of the news a,
the office of the Southern Pacific Company
in this city, MIR. A. n. Towne. General
Manager, issued the following circular,
with orders to the company's agents to
post it in a conspicuous place:
THE mail and express cars on our west
bound express train, when at point seven
teen miles east of Tucson. A. T, at 10
o'clock last night were stopped and robbed
by four or five men. The Southern Pacific
Company hereby offers a reward of 1900
each for the arrest and conviction of the
robbers, which is in addition to like re-
ward offered by Wells, Fargo & Co.'S ex-
press. In addition to this, we understand
the United States Postoffice Department
ha 5 standing reward of 500 each for the
arrest and conviction of the persons who
are engaged in robbing the nails